Landfill Management Event Shares Success Story

During the Dec. 7 SWANA online presentation, Allison Tyldesley, landfill technician at the Halton Waste Management Site in Ontario, Canada, will explain the actions that will keep it open until at least 2040.

Nov 29, 2012

SWANA, the Solid Waste Association of North America, is presenting an online event Dec. 7 showcasing the Halton Waste Management Site's story of success. The landfill in Ontario, Canada, opened in 1992 with a life expectancy of 20 years, but instead of reaching capacity in 2012, its managers now say it will be open until at least 2040. On Oct. 3, the Halton Regional Council unanimously approved waste management program changes starting April 1, 2013, that should help to add even more time.

Allison Tyldesley, landfill technician at the site, is the presenter in SWANA's online "50 is the New 20 -– Extending a Landfill's Life through Proper Landfill Management" event. It will cover topics including effective site design, the benefits of a fully integrated waste management system, and unique diversion and educational programs.

The landfill is the Halton Region's one-stop solution for recycling and disposal services. Its approved capacity is 7.96 million cubic meters of waste, including yard waste and household hazardous garbage. According to the site's website, tremendous efforts by the more than 200,000 Halton residents in recycling and diverting waste resulted in the extension to 2040 or later.

The 2013 waste management program changes are these:

Expanding Halton's Blue Box acceptable materials

Making larger Blue Boxes available for pickup

Starting yard waste collection earlier in the season

Providing more bulk waste collection dates

Decreasing the current garbage bag/can limit

These changes support Halton's 2012-2016 Solid Waste Management Strategy and its goal to reach a waste diversion rate of 65 percent by 2016.